What do medical sources say about Turmeric during pregnancy?

1st Trimester: NCCIH cautions that turmeric supplements may pose a risk during pregnancy, while EMA's herbal monograph says its Curcuma longa preparations cannot be recommended because pregnancy data are lacking. MotherToBaby says moderate amounts of herbs used in food are not expected to be a concern, but its general sheet does not mention turmeric. These sources do not give first-trimester-specific human findings or separate ordinary seasoning from each supplement formulation. Ask your provider about your situation. 2nd Trimester: NCCIH cautions that turmeric supplements may pose a risk during pregnancy, while EMA's herbal monograph says its Curcuma longa preparations cannot be recommended because pregnancy data are lacking. MotherToBaby says moderate amounts of herbs used in food are not expected to be a concern, but its general sheet does not mention turmeric. A 2024 case report described probable diet-related liver injury after high turmeric intake began at 23 weeks, but pregnancy-related cholestasis could not be fully excluded and liver tests became abnormal again at 35 weeks while turmeric was avoided. This single case cannot show how often this happens or whether moderate seasoning carries the same risk. Ask your provider about your situation. 3rd Trimester: NCCIH cautions that turmeric supplements may pose a risk during pregnancy, while EMA's herbal monograph says its Curcuma longa preparations cannot be recommended because pregnancy data are lacking. MotherToBaby says moderate amounts of herbs used in food are not expected to be a concern, but its general sheet does not mention turmeric. These sources do not give third-trimester-specific human findings or separate ordinary seasoning from each supplement formulation. Ask your provider about your situation.

What do medical sources say about Turmeric while breastfeeding?

LactMed says no data measure turmeric components in human milk, and NCCIH says little is known about amounts above those in food. LactMed cites a 50-mother trial of turmeric combined with fenugreek and ginger. It reports no infant adverse events, but says the method of checking was not reported, and the mixture cannot show turmeric's separate effect. EMA's 2018 monograph advises against Curcuma longa preparations during breastfeeding based on animal evidence of transfer and liver-enzyme changes in mouse pups, which does not establish effects in nursing people. Preclinical studies differ: a 2020 cell study found curcumin lowered milk production, while a 2026 organoid-and-mouse study found increased milk-related measures; neither tested nursing people. Ask your provider about your situation.

Where do sources disagree on Turmeric in pregnancy or breastfeeding?

Pregnancy advice for food amounts versus supplements NCCIH cautions that turmeric supplements may pose a risk during pregnancy. EMA's herbal monograph says its Curcuma longa preparations cannot be recommended because pregnancy data are lacking. MotherToBaby says moderate amounts of herbs used in food are not expected to be a concern, but its general sheet does not discuss turmeric specifically. The sources address different forms and evidence. NCCIH names supplements, EMA addresses medicinal preparations and cites missing pregnancy data, and MotherToBaby gives general advice about moderate food use rather than turmeric-specific findings. The evidence does not establish pregnancy outcomes for turmeric supplements or provide trimester-specific human data. EMA's recommendation reflects missing data, and the general food statement is not specific to turmeric. The pregnancy rating remains insufficient; ordinary seasoning and concentrated supplements should not be treated as interchangeable.

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Turmeric

Herbal

Also called · 8 names▾

turmeric root, Indian saffron, Curcuma longa, Curcuma domestica, Curcuma aromatica, curcumin, curcuminoids, tumeric

Herbal supplement (joint symptoms)

Herbs and supplements are not FDA-approved before sale. About these sources

Food / spice
Capsule/tablet
Topical

Pregnancy

NCCIH cautions that turmeric supplement use may pose a risk during pregnancy. EMA's 2018 HMPC report says pregnancy outcomes have not been established and that Curcuma longa preparations cannot be recommended because relevant data are lacking. MotherToBaby's general herbal-products sheet says moderate amounts of herbs used in food are not expected to be a concern, but it does not name turmeric. The only turmeric-specific human pregnancy report located was a 2024 case of maternal liver injury after the patient reported consuming turmeric 3 to 4 times daily, in amounts reported as 5 to 10 grams, beginning at 23 weeks and 4 days. The authors called the diet-related injury probable, but intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy could not be fully excluded; liver tests became abnormal again at 35 weeks while turmeric was avoided. This single case does not establish how often injury occurs or whether ordinary seasoning has the same effect. The 2025 network meta-analysis addressed nutritional supplements in women with infertility, not routine exposure during established pregnancy. A 2026 recurrent-loss study used an RSA mouse model and human endometrial stromal cells, not clinical miscarriage outcomes. No trimester-specific human outcome studies were identified.

Breastfeeding

LactMed reports no human milk measurements for turmeric components and no infant-level data. It cites a randomized trial of 50 exclusively breastfeeding mothers, 25 per group, who used a mixed supplement containing fenugreek, ginger, and turmeric for 4 weeks. LactMed reports that no infant adverse events were reported, but that the method used to determine this was not described; infant growth was not reported. The primary abstract reports no difference in adverse effects between groups, and the combination does not identify turmeric's individual effect. The trial reported a 49% increase in pumped milk volume at week 2 and a 103% increase at week 4 in the supplement group compared with baseline, but these changes cannot be assigned to turmeric alone. A 1995 mouse study found changes in liver-enzyme markers in nursing dams and pups after high doses and said this suggested transfer through milk. A 2020 in vitro study found curcumin reduced milk production in lactating mammary cells. A 2026 study found increased lactogenic signals in human mammary organoids and increased milk yield in a postpartum mouse model. None of these studies establishes effects in nursing people.

Pregnancy advice for food amounts versus supplements

Source A says: NCCIH cautions that turmeric supplements may pose a risk during pregnancy. EMA's herbal monograph says its Curcuma longa preparations cannot be recommended because pregnancy data are lacking. (NCCIH: Turmeric, EMA/HMPC: Assessment report on Curcuma longa L., rhizoma)
Source B says: MotherToBaby says moderate amounts of herbs used in food are not expected to be a concern, but its general sheet does not discuss turmeric specifically. (MotherToBaby: Herbal Products fact sheet)
Why they differ: The sources address different forms and evidence. NCCIH names supplements, EMA addresses medicinal preparations and cites missing pregnancy data, and MotherToBaby gives general advice about moderate food use rather than turmeric-specific findings.
What the evidence shows overall: The evidence does not establish pregnancy outcomes for turmeric supplements or provide trimester-specific human data. EMA's recommendation reflects missing data, and the general food statement is not specific to turmeric. The pregnancy rating remains insufficient; ordinary seasoning and concentrated supplements should not be treated as interchangeable.

EMA's breastfeeding precaution and limited human evidence

Source A says: EMA advises against Curcuma longa preparations during breastfeeding, citing an animal study in which liver-enzyme changes in nursing pups suggested transfer of turmeric or curcumin constituents through milk. (EMA/HMPC: Assessment report on Curcuma longa L., rhizoma, Singh et al., Cancer Letters 1995: animal lactation study)
Source B says: LactMed reports no human milk measurements for turmeric components, and NCCIH says little is known about amounts above those found in food while breastfeeding. (LactMed: Turmeric, NCCIH: Turmeric)
Why they differ: EMA applies a precaution based on an animal signal. LactMed and NCCIH describe the lack of human milk data. The animal findings do not establish transfer levels or effects in nursing people.
What the evidence shows overall: EMA's advice should be shown, but the animal study does not establish human infant harm at ordinary use. Human data remain insufficient, so the live rating stays insufficient.

Curcumin and milk production in experimental models

Source A says: A 2020 in vitro study found that curcumin reduced milk production in lactating mammary epithelial cells. (Kobayashi et al., Phytomedicine 2021: lactating mammary-cell study)
Source B says: A 2026 study found increased lactogenic signals in human mammary organoids and increased milk yield in postpartum mice. A 2018 human trial also found increased pumped milk volume with a mixture containing turmeric, fenugreek, and ginger, but could not isolate turmeric's effect. (Zhou et al., Biomaterials 2026: mammary organoid and mouse study, Bumrungpert et al., Breastfeeding Medicine 2018: mixed-herb randomized trial)
Why they differ: The studies used different models and outcomes, including cells, organoids, mice, and a mixed-herb human product. None tests turmeric by itself in nursing people.
What the evidence shows overall: The preclinical findings point in different directions, and the human trial cannot attribute its results to turmeric. They do not establish whether oral turmeric changes milk production in nursing people.

Last reviewed 2026-10-16

Independent check 2026-10-16

Not yet clinician-reviewed

Ask your provider about your situation.

Ginger
Boswellia
Willow Bark

Turmeric

Turmeric — Breastfeeding

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What's in it / what was tested

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